RCG Opener

Well, kudos to those who tried, at least.

All reports I got yesterday indicate pretty slow fishing in the SC area.  Even the PB's had trouble scratching a few fish up.

Mostly the wind and bumpy conditions, but we also have a little swell coming in.

That combo roils the water and reduces visibility and can put the bite off.  Additionally, the water is COLD!  Kenny Stagnaro was measuring it at 47 degrees yesterday.BBBBBRRRRRRRRR!!!!  Even the rockfish that are around are kinda sluggish and off the bite when it's that cold,

Springtime RCG can be tough.  Last year started pretty much the same.  Our shallower reefs didn't really start producing till the end of May or into June.  Stagnaro did best yesterday fishing Davenport on a reef about 150 FOW.  He worked the outside edges of the reefs and found a couple stops that produced near limits of coppers  and reds for his customers. I think 130 fish for 15 clients, and he really had to work for it.

What I found working last year in these early season conditions from the yak was to work waaay inside.  I fished the edges of the kelp, and did some potholing, and always managed 1/2 limits with the very occasional lingcod.  Basically fishing for dinner, nothing huge and some small ones released.  Unless I'm having people over for dinner or purposely trying to fill the freezer, that is plenty of fish for me and my family.  In SC, Lighthouse point kelp was the best, with Westside or Pleasure Point  coming in second.  In Monterey the beds near Cannery Row were my go-to spot from Spring into Summer.  Never got skunked, but had to fish hard afew times to scrtch up a meal.

Remember you can check my weekly report Thursdays at the Sentinel website (also printed Wednesday nights at sportfishingreport.com and on Jim Sammon's site lajollakayakfishing.com); and tune into The Let's Go Fishing Radio Show Thursdays at 7pm...(live streamed from the radio show website listed on my signature) for the weekly report covering entire Bay Area and generally, the whole state.

So, if I can't go fishing, there is the best of my local knowledge for the bretheren,  Good luck and let us know how you are doing. Be fun and have safe.

Allen

  RCG? Rock Cod G?,  Real Cold G?  Haven't been able to figure out the initials.

  RCG? Rock Cod G?,  Real Cold G?  Haven't been able to figure out the initials.

Rockfish Cabezon Greenling.

Rather Catch Giants, Recruiting Coast Guard, or my recent favorite as I am on the regime of Oxycontin and Vicodin: Ralph, Cough, Gak.

Kenny Stagnaro was measuring it at 47 degrees yesterday.BBBBBRRRRRRRRR!!!!  Even the rockfish that are around are kinda sluggish and off the bite when it's that cold,

Allen

Not to mention the people (surfers!). that is cold, cold, cold.  I think I will dust off the longboard so I can stay out of the water a bit more. sadly, this jcold probably means it would have been good for salmon if there were any, and means that the tuna may skip us this year.

also that the bait won't come in for a long time, and the mackerel may skip us too.

kind of a double whammy.

personally I'd like to try some deep water RCG fishing from the yak, I don't think I have ever even fished over 100 feet from the yak before. but that 150 feet deep reef is off limits this year right? I have lost track of the 120/180/240 thing

John

Thanks for the intel Allen.
My own much-shorter feelers were telling me the same.

Seems like a redo of last year, but last year ended up being a record for me in terms of fish caught.
I guess patience will be key again this spring.

Allen,

Great Info. Hope your arm is healing and hope to see you on the water again.

Hey, just a thought, aren't you going to Alaska soon?

Sadly, Alaska is out for me this year due to the injury.  I won't be doing any guiding or clinics until July at the very earliest.  I find out more later today at the  Doc's.

Sean- last year started just like this, and I agree, it was a pretty good season all-around.  I expect a good year his year.

John..The high wind-upwelling-cold water springtime conditions is often just what we need for a good albacore season later in the year.  Not only do we need warm currents, but it's historically best when the inshore water is cooler or cold to create the good, distinctive "breaks" the albacore hunt across.  two years ago we had vast stagnant pools of warm water offshore, holding very few albies.  No real breaks, just diffuse lines.  So, the cold water is actually a good sign,  The warm water comes later, up from the south in currents holding the fish.

I have my fingers crossed for tuna this year, I haven't even gone out for two years up here for them.

Allen

I am so hopeful for a good tuna season....

I'm with you Allen, haven't gone for any in 2 years. And I so love grilled Albacore.

3 years ago, we bought a 26 lb.er on "S" dock, actually fit in the hard case on our Harley Roadking (had to snap it's tail which produced major chuckles from the guys watching us) went home,filleted it out, grilled some and smoked the rest (Alderwood is the best for smoking Albacore). There is nothing better than smoked Alabacore belly meat!!!!

Rich

Roadking, eh?

My fantasy is a roadking (with a few extra lights) that I would ride wearing  a madras shirt and khaki shorts.

Allen

ps I agree with the smoked albacore statement, though my favorite recipe is slathered in bbq sauce, wrapped in bacon, then grilled.......

Just to reiterate Allen's advice. Fish shallow: I caught my 4 lings and red in 35-55ft of water (the big guy was in 35ft). Tip your lures w/bait, like squid chunks. And it is very cold (it was 47-48 outside the Cove and 50 inside the Cove) so the fish are sluggish, which means you should slow down your lure action.
It sounds like SC was very slow, according to the boaters I talk to. There were about 70+ boats out and only a few fish per boat. 

I had a good time with alan tani last year.  hopefully I'll get a chance to tuna fish again this year.

I also had fun doing exactly what allen recommends last year. Not a lot of fish, but enough for me.

not fun for most guys tho, they prefer to drive further and get more fish, like you can do in monterey/carmel.

I'd like to try getting out to a deep reef earlier in the season this year. how I would go about finding it tho, I'm not sure.

With firm belief in your prediction for a robust tuna season this fall, I WILL be trying your BBQ recipe.

I never expected to own a Harley. My wife made me buy it.

That's a true story.

I had been working for Hitachi for 15 years as a sales guy when they closed our division and let 200 of us go. They gave all of us a great severance package which I stashed away in case I could not land a job quickly. They also owed me a 6 month commission check. But since I had been loyal and commited to them for 15 years, they, to honor and acknowledge that,  tripled it..

The year was 2003.My neighbor had this 97 Roadking. He was a San Jose Police Officer. Harley, to commemorate their 100th anniversary and to honor police and firefighters that gave their lives on  9/11, produced a special addition bagger for the police and another for the firemen.. Great discount as well, so my neighbor bought one and offered me his 97, which I talked myself out of , I didn't want to spend the money and I never though of owning a HD. My wife insisted I buy it... So I did

I didn't even try to look for a job for 6 months. I had roads to travel....


We've been praying for you Allen, let us all know what the Doc says..

Rich and Donna

Hi Allen.Sorry to hear about your injury.A couple of us fished MBK for a slow grind.I ended up with one keeper 25" ling, a nice 4lb vermilion, a copper and brown.All in all it was a fun day on the water ending with some good eats, but it was cold and a bit choppy.No schoolie blues,blacks or olives in the mix yet.

It sounds like SC was very slow, according to the boaters I talk to. There were about 70+ boats out and only a few fish per boat

Slowmo and I were out early this morning off the lighthouse and it was a big zipO. Only a few boats around and they were reporting the same, no other kayaks that we saw.

I fished the edges of the kelp, and did some potholing,

We discussed working our way along in close, but were enjoying some whales out a little further towards the buoy and just didn't get to it before our time was up, next time.
As always good just to out and as Walker said at least we got the yaks wet (to say nothing of all the acorns the squirrels had stored in Walkers boat.